Glass Collection
The glass collection was established during the founding of the Split City Museum. Its holdings were primarily expanded through acquisitions, but donations of individual items or entire groups, as well as bequests, were also common (notably from the pharmaceutical Tocigl family, Kandida Rinčić, Anka Grabovac, the architect Slavko Muljačić, and the Slapničar family). Additional pieces have been acquired through archaeological excavations in the historic centre, including substructure finds from Diocletian’s Palace (1968–1974), Papalić Palace (1988), Carrarina Poljana (2005), and the Dominican Monastery (2007–2008), among others. Bequests are of particular interest, as they primarily reveal information about the testator, and secondarily about their family and the period in which they lived in Split. The most important and finest part of the Split City Museum’s collection comes from the bequest of Dr. Ivo Tartaglia, mayor of Split in the early 20th century, renowned art connoisseur, patron, and collector.
The Glass Collection comprises 245 objects, which are grouped by function as follows: kitchenware, (bowls, jars, and similar items); tableware (such as glasses, jugs, bottles, and plates); decorative pieces (including vases, ashtrays, figurines, souvenirs, and lighting fixtures); apothecary glass (pharmacy equipment such as labelled bottles, jars, test tubes, retorts, and measuring vessels); and packaging (including bottles and jars).